Tripura Government has decided to increase festival advance, as a one-time measure, to Rs 20,000 for all categories of permanent employees and DRS who have been engaged with the approval of Finance Department. Deputy Chief Minister Jishnu Dev Varma said while addressing a press meet at the State Assembly on Monday. Besides, festival grants for Anganwadi workers/helpers, Home Guards, PTW or similar categories of employees engaged with the prior concurrence of the Finance Department have also been increased to Rs 1200, he informed the media.
He told the media, “The Permanent employees and Finance department-approved DRS can draw festival advance up to Rs 20,000 during the current financial year. This is an increase of advance to almost four times from the previous year”. Dev Varma added, “Now there will not be any difference between any Group of these employees as far as festival advance is concerned”.
The festival advance hiked to Rs 20,000 from the existing rate of Rs 6,000 for Group A, Rs 5500 for Group B and Rs 5000 for Group C and D, the Deputy Chief Minister said.
Dev Varma further said, “The State Government has also enhanced festival grant from existing Rs 1000 to Rs 1200 for selected categories of employees who are not eligible for Festival Advance viz. PTW or similar categories of employees who have been engaged with the prior concurrence of Finance Department, Anganwadi workers/helpers and Home Guards.
Through the implementation of the decision, an additional amount of Rs 186.64 crore will be available to the State Government employees.
“This will give a boost to State economy, generate business and thereby bring money in the pockets of workers,” he opined.
In the press meet, the Deputy Chief Minister also highlighted several other decisions of the State Government for the welfare of Government employees as well as holistic development of the State.
In this connection, Dev Varma referred to considering the fitment factor to 2.57 for salary revision based on the recommendation of a three-member committee. Besides, salaries of employees at Higher Educational institutions and Medical faculties were revised as per the UGC recommended pay scale.
“Despite the Corona Pandemic hardship, State Government released 3 percent DA for the Government employees. Monthly Subscriptions and Insurance coverages for State Government employees were also hiked”.
Apart from Government employees, the State Government revised the wages of workers under the State Government were revised from October 1, 2018. Besides, during the Covid pandemic, Rs 1000 were given to seven lakh families through the Chief Minister’s Covid Special Relief Package.
The Deputy Chief Minister thanked the frontline Covid warriors, Health personnel, and other concerned personnel in combating Covid as well as making Covid Vaccination drive successful.